CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Egypt 0 – 0 Nigeria AET (2 – 4)
Three-time continental champions Nigeria have finished third in Afcon nine times [Getty Images]
Nigeria ended their run on penalties by beating Egypt on penalties to secure third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a goalless draw.
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Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, brilliantly saved efforts from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, allowing Ademola Lookman to finish despite the thinking games of Pharaoh’s goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
The West African team lost to Morocco in a penalty kick in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup were ended by DR Congo in November.
There was no doubt that it was a deserved result because Eric Chelle’s men showed an attack during the 90 minutes in Casablanca and the balls were placed twice in the Egyptian net.
Nigeria first got a goal back nine minutes before the break when referee Jalal Jayed adjudged Paul Onuachu to have committed a foul in the build-up after a VAR review.
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Lookman, a half-time substitute, had a close ball quickly ruled out for offside against Akor Adams early in the second half.
The result extended Nigeria’s overall record in the third-placed Afcon play-offs, with eight wins in the match to add to the bronze medal in the 1976 tournament when a group stage was used to decide the title.
With Nigerian talisman Victor Osimhen an unused substitute, the result will increase the chances of Brahim Diaz getting the golden boot on home soil.
The Moroccan has five goals – two ahead of Atlas Lions team-mate Ayoub El Kaabi and three more than Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Pape Gueye.
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Senegal will face the hosts in the final in Rabat on Sunday (19:00 GMT), with the winners defending their second continental title and taking home $10m (£7.475m) in prize money.
Nwabali helps the Super Eagles in making bronze
Egypt’s captain, Mohamed Salah, scored his first goal in the penalty shootout but was denied by Stanley Nwabali [Getty Images]
Egypt made six changes and Nigeria five in their semi-final defeat, with the only real action in the first half an hour when Salah’s effort was saved by Nwabali and the Pharaohs captain then tried to follow from the sidelines after deflecting in behind.
Nigeria thought they had taken the lead after Shobeir made a brilliant save to deny Samuel Chukwueze, as Adams’ ball was deflected by Chukwueze and deflected off the back of Onuachu’s head.
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However, Jayed was sent to his monitor on the pitch and instead ruled out a goal and showed Onuachu a yellow card for elbowing Hamdy Fathy – although it looked like the Egyptian defender ran into the big striker’s arm.
Nigeria struggled to break down a strong Egypt side, and with 10 minutes left Fathy managed to push the ball past Adams, causing the Nigerian striker to miss his spot-kick, even if the first play looked to be from outside the box.
Salah sent a promising free-kick over the Nigerian wall before the game went to penalties in front of a healthy crowd supporting the West Africans.
Chukwueze, one of the two players alongside Bruno Onyemaechi to have their penalties saved by Yassine Bounou in the semi-final, was denied the chance to free himself from 12 yards as he was sent off in stoppage time.
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Shobeir saved Nigeria’s opening effort from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, but Nwabali produced a strong hand to push away Salah’s effort and blocked Marmoush’s spot-kick with a back-foot.
Salah, who was hoping to win the first Afcon title, was also disappointed after being beaten by Senegal in the final when his Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane, scored the winning goal.
Some of the Super Eagles’ goals were unmistakable, with Atalanta striker Lookman getting the win and meaning Chelle’s boys can return home with something to show for their efforts in Morocco.
